India Begins Manolo Márquez Era with Goalless Draw Against Mauritius

Sayak Banerjee / 04-09-2024

Ranked 124th in FIFA standings, India was expected to comfortably defeat 179th-ranked Mauritius in the opening match of the Intercontinental Cup. However, the Men in Blue failed to find the back of the net, ending the game in a disappointing 0-0 stalemate in Hyderabad.

This match marked India’s first outing after the retirement of Sunil Chhetri, as well as the debut for new head coach Manolo Márquez. Unfortunately, India’s lack of a clinical striker like Chhetri was glaringly obvious. The team dominated possession throughout but faltered in the final third. Manvir Singh and Liston Colaco led the attack but could not capitalize on opportunities, leaving Indian fans frustrated.

India took nine shots in total, with only one on target, comfortably saved by the Mauritius goalkeeper. Despite controlling the game, the Indian forwards seemed disorganized and lacked sharpness in front of goal. Márquez, still in the process of fine-tuning the squad, will have been unimpressed with this performance.

With this draw, India’s chances in the tri-nation tournament involving Mauritius and Syria have taken a hit. Márquez, however, views this tournament as preparation for the Asian Cup Qualifiers in March. The coach will need significant improvements if India is to rise to the challenge in their remaining matches.